Report: Husband's campaign paid Sandi Jackson thousands

May 21, 2009 2:27:16 PM PDT

May 21, 2009 (CHICAGO) --

Congressman Jesse Jackson Junior's campaign has paid his wife more than $247,000 since 2001. The website Bloomberg.com reports that includes at least $95,000 paid to Sandi Jackson since she became a Chicago alderman. That money was for political consulting work.

Congressman Jackson's political committee also gave more than $298,000 in cash and in-kind contributions to his wife's campaign fund.

The website reports that the federal election commission told Jackson in 2001 that he could pay his wife for consulting work without violating a ban on personal use of political donations.

A spokesman for Jackson issued a statement Thursday, saying, "There is nothing wrong and nothing new here. The fact is the congressman sought and received written permission from the FEC to pay Sandi as a consultant. He also sought and received written FEC permission to contribute to her campaign. They both honor the practice of transparency."